FHS lacrosse teams on track for playoffs

The Fairhaven High School boys' lacrosse team posted a 7-4 win over Cape Cod Tech Monday, and with that, they join the FHS girls' lacrosse team in a chase to reach the MIAA tournament.

RICH DAMASO

FAIRHAVEN — The Fairhaven High School boys' lacrosse team posted a 7-4 win over Cape Cod Tech Monday, and with that, they join the FHS girls' lacrosse team in a chase to reach the MIAA tournament.

The goal is simple for both the Devils and Lady Blue Devils: Win three of their six remaining games, respectively, and they're in.

Graduating six seniors from last year's very successful 17-4 run and a second round tournament loss, the Blue Devils and third year head coach Nick Pilla knew the challenge would be to find a new identity for a team that includes 19 juniors and 15 sophomores.

Well, they're getting there.

Dave Santos, Jeremy Lawton, Mason Evich and Christian Rodrigues have been the primary goal scorers, but Adam Crouteau, Dylan Cromwell and Mark Hebert have provided some good support.

Defense was sluggish at the beginning of the year, says Pilla, but at the midway point, they have become more technically sound and are working better as a unit.

Tyler Mello, only a sophomore, has consistently drawn the task of covering the opponent's leading scorer, and Zack Martin, Drew Diggins, Caleb Cebula and Tom Lafreniere have been standouts on defense, too.

Co-captains Alex Silva (goalie), Jacob Bolarinho (midfield), Lawton (attack) and Cromwell (midfield) continue to grow the program in a positive way and make this a more complete lacrosse team.

The players work very hard during the off-season, Pilla noted, playing for prominent select teams in the area, as well as indoor and summer leagues.

"From the coach's perspective, I am proud of how they have come together and become the most complete lacrosse team the program has seen," said Pilla, "and our players are consistently making unselfish decisions to help better the team as a whole."

The Devils have won three in a row, including a 6-5 win over Coyle-Cassidy from Friday night. They're 7-7 overall and 3-3 in the South Coast Conference.

Playing a tougher schedule this year hasn't made things any easier for the Lady Blue Devils, but this younger version of last year's team has more athleticism and speed as a whole, according to FHS athletic director and third year head coach Scott Francis.

Coming off a 10-8 season last year, and a despite a first round tournament loss to Cohasset, expectations were high for this year's team, which does not have a senior on the roster and starts five juniors, six sophomores and one freshman.

Junior Shae Riley is the offensive leader on the team, and is on track to finish the season with the most goals by any Fairhaven player in a single season. Sophomore Kari Berche and junior Julia Corey round out the top three scorers on the team. Junior Taryn MacGregor, sophomore Kaci Berche and freshman Lauren Arbec have solidified the midfield and play both sides of the ball very well.

The Lady Blue Devils improved to 5-7 on Friday with a 14-13 win over Cape Cod Academy.

The girls play Voc-Tech Friday at 3:30 p.m., while the boys play Voc-Tech Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

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